GAME REPORT

Medias Victory Not Enough To Advance

Gaz Metan Medias closed their EuroChallenge Group I campaign with a 67-58 victory over BK Ventspils, but it was not enough to see them through to the quarter-finals.

Medias needed a win combined with a victory for Pinar Karsiyaka over Joensuun Kataja to go through, but while they did their part, the news from Finland was not good as both these teams took their exit.

Medias set up the victory with a strong 10 minutes spell that spanned the first and second quarters.

After a tight opening, Medias began to pull away six and a half minutes into the game, embarking on what would prove to be a 16-2 run.

It was far from an explosive spurt however, Slobodan Dundjerski getting it started with a driving lay-up but before a three-and-a-half minute spell during which neither team scored a point.

Another Dundjerski lay-up to start the second quarter had a more decisive effect as it was followed by Kyle Shiloh's three-pointer to get Medias moving.

Ventspils did not fade away, however, and a 10-0 run got them right back in it as Sandis Valters' free throws made it 26-22.

But Medias clung on to a lead that was never again less than three and had grown to 48-35 when Ivan Lilov made a fast-break lay-up early in the fourth quarter.

Dundjerski made it 63-46 with 2:07 to go before the hosts eased up and Ventspils gathered some consolation points.

Shiloh led Medias with 15 points while Zoran Krstanovic had 13 and Dundjerski 10.

Martins Meiers led Ventspils with 14 points while Donald Sims had 12 and Valters 10.

COACH QUOTES

Quotes: Gaz Metan Medias - BK Ventspils

BK Ventspils player Martins Meiers

"It was a very bad game for us, there was a big pressure from Gaz Metan that we couldn't handle. We made too many mistakes, we missed some shots and that's the reason why we lost tonight."

BK Ventspils coach Roberts Stelmahers

"It's hard to explain why we lost tonight, but this is normal, it's sport and one team always wins. We knew that it will be very hard in Medias, it's very hard to win here. Gaz Metan have players with experience. We have a young team that couldn't hold the pressure of Gaz Metan."

Gaz Metan Medias coach Marcel Tenter

"A hard earned victory, the number of points indicates that this game was played under the pressure of qualification. Both teams were affected by this. I am happy that we defended exceptionally. We made mistakes but mostly we had good defence who stopped their players. We are happy because we won three games at this stage [of the competition]. I congratulate the entire team and the public. I'm proud of them."

Gaz Metan Medias player Kyle Shiloh

"We had a good game, we didn't think about the game in Finland, we just came out and tried to play our best basketball. I'm very disappointed because we lost to Kataja. There were a couple of points at the end of the game that made the difference."

67-58

COACH QUOTES

Quotes: Gaz Metan Medias - BK Ventspils

"It was a very bad game for us, there was a big pressure from Gaz Metan that we couldn't handle. We made too many mistakes, we missed some shots and that's the reason why we lost tonight."

BK Ventspils coach Roberts Stelmahers

"It's hard to explain why we lost tonight, but this is normal, it's sport and one team always wins. We knew that it will be very hard in Medias, it's very hard to win here. Gaz Metan have players with experience. We have a young team that couldn't hold the pressure of Gaz Metan."

Gaz Metan Medias coach Marcel Tenter

"A hard earned victory, the number of points indicates that this game was played under the pressure of qualification. Both teams were affected by this. I am happy that we defended exceptionally. We made mistakes but mostly we had good defence who stopped their players. We are happy because we won three games at this stage [of the competition]. I congratulate the entire team and the public. I'm proud of them."

Gaz Metan Medias player Kyle Shiloh

"We had a good game, we didn't think about the game in Finland, we just came out and tried to play our best basketball. I'm very disappointed because we lost to Kataja. There were a couple of points at the end of the game that made the difference."